European Parliament Votes to Approve Three-Year Delay on EU Methane Rules
Lawmakers approved the delay by 341 votes to 225 after pressure from industry and governments over energy security and fuel prices.
- On Thursday, the European Parliament approved a three-year delay to EU methane emissions rules for oil and gas imports, extending the compliance deadline to May 31, 2031.
- The EPP pushed for this extension amid intense lobbying from the United States, France, and Italy, citing energy security concerns and high prices caused by Middle East supply disruptions.
- EPP group spokesman Christian Ehler described the Commission's initial one-year delay as "far from sufficient," arguing the move addresses supply security rather than permitting increased methane emissions.
- Lawmakers must now negotiate a final deadline decision with EU governments, while Parliament President Roberta Metsola described the vote as "strengthening Europe's energy security."
- Jutta Paulus, a Greens/EFA MEP, warned that "suspending the Methane Regulation now puts Europe's climate targets at risk," accusing the Commission of bowing to industry pressure.
47 Articles
47 Articles
The European Parliament has called for a postponement of the stricter climate protection rules for methane emissions in the energy sector.
Requirements for the industry were to be tightened as early as January 2027, but they have now been postponed by three years.
The European Parliament voted for a postponement of methane emissions legislation from 2027 to 2030, going further than the European Commission's proposal The European Parliament
On Thursday, the European Parliament voted to postpone three years of obligations on the monitoring and reporting of methane emissions in the energy sector, following the adoption of an amendment supported by the former Energy Minister, MEP Virgil Popescu, who claims that the measure will protect the competitiveness of oil and gas producers in Romania and the European Union by granting an additional deadline for adapting to European requirements.
The European LNP Virgil Popescu announces the approval of its amendment on the three-year postponement of methane emissions obligations.It protects the production of oil and gas from Romania and the EU, says Virgil Popescu.
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